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Former Washington Post journalist turned immigration reform activist, Jose Antonio Vargas, center, an illegal immigrant himself, speaks at an informational news conference supporting President Obama's announcement to stop deportations of younger illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, in Washington, on Wednesday, June 20, 2012. (Credit: AP)

Well known journalist and immigration activist Jose Antonio Vargas, who also happens to be an illegal alien, was arrested at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for driving without a valid drivers license on Friday, ABC News reports, citing the non-profit organization MinnPost.

Vargas was taken into police custody on Friday morning but was reportedly released by mid-afternoon. He was charged with a misdemeanor and is scheduled to appear in Hennepin County court on Oct. 18.

Hennepin County participates in the Secure Communities program, which allows local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with the federal government in enforcing immigration law by checking arrestees against immigration databases. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could act if the individual is found to be undocumented. Other details about Vargas’ arrest are unknown.

Originally from the Philippines, Vargas gained national attention for his June 2011 New York Times essay titled “My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant.” In the essay, he describes what living as an illegal immigrant is like in the United States, though Vargas is an outspoken critic of using the term “illegal immigrant.”

Vargas also appeared on the cover of Time Magazine along with dozens of other illegal aliens. The cover read “We Are Americans — Just Not Legally.” He publicly “came out” as an illegal immigrant last year.